Velma Alice Martin Amos
January 11, 2016
Mrs. Velma Alice Martin Amos, 72, passed away on Saturday, January 11, 2016, in Bay Minette.
Mrs. Amos was a native and lifelong resident of Atmore. Mrs. Amos was retired from Vanity Fair with 48 years of service. She was a member of the Poarch Creek Band of Indians, active member of the VFW Auxiliary and the Breast Cancer Awareness Organization. She was a member of the St. Anna’s Episcopal Church of Poarch. She is preceded in death by her husband, Paul Jackson Amos (Ret. USN, Korean and Desert Storm); her mother, Elsie Martin Holland; sister, Helen Price; and brother, Lee Van Martin.
Survivors include her three sons, Paul Lynn (Paula) Amos of Prince Fredrick, MD, John Christopher Amos of Pensacola and Michael William Amos of Atmore; one daughter, Cindy Amos (Winston) Byrd of Atmore; three brothers, Otha (Marie) Martin of Atmore, Douglas (Shelby) Martin of Zion, IL and J.T. Holland of Atmore; two sisters, Jeanette (Kenneth) Beck of Atmore and Jean Ardis of Lottie; nine grandchildren, Jacob, Heather, Sarah, Joey, Karlee, Kyle, Landry, Brodie and Layla; four great-grandchildren, Micah, Kayleigh, Jayden and Marlee; and good friend, Gerri Bell of Lottie.
Funeral services will be Wednesday, January 13, 2016, at 2 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Father Gary Baldwin officiating.
Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery.
Visitation will be Tuesday, January 12, 2016, from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Jake Thomas, Kyle Amos, Melvin Byrd, Douglas Mitchell, Dustin Lindsey and Joseph Murphy.
Honorary pallbearers will be Buford Rolin, Eddie Tullis, Martin Meckel, Jamie Thomas Sr., Gravis Sells, David Kirby and Josh Thomas.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Jessie Lomax Fryar, Sr.
January 11, 2016
Jessie Lomax Fryar, Sr. of Pensacola, passed away on Friday, January 8, 2016. Jessie was born on February 6, 1925, in Andalusia to the late Arthur and Maggie Fryar.
He is preceded in death by his loving wife of 47 years, Virginia Ruth Fryar; beloved grandson, Jacob Adam Washinger; brothers, Arthur, Vaughn, and Roy Fryar; and sister Evelyn.
Those left to cherish his memory are his son, Max (Becky) Fryar; daughter, Patricia (Jon) Washinger; and three grandchildren, Lucy Washinger, Christopher Fryar, and Brandon Fryar.
Jessie is a veteran, having served in the United States Navy during World War II. He will be remembered most for his love of sharing stories, his great sense of humor, and his ability to fix and repair everything. He was always the “go-to man” in the family and around the neighborhood.
Visitation will be held at Faith Chapel South, 100 Beverly Parkway, on Tuesday, January 12, 2016, at 11:30 a.m., followed by funeral services at 12 p.m.
Interment will follow at Bayview Memorial Park.
The family would like to thank the entire staff at Bayside Manor for their compassion, empathy, and diligence to provide an incomparable level of care. Thanks also to Emerald Coast Hospice nurses for all your love, kindness, and special care. We feel so blessed to have had such special people take care of Jessie.
Beverly Joyce Wiggins
January 11, 2016
Beverly “Joyce” Wiggins, 54, of Pensacola, passed away on Saturday, January 9, 2016. Joyce was born on January 14, 1961, in Wyatt, Missouri. She was the daughter of the late William Don Johnson and Alice Benton. She is also preceded in death by her brothers, William Don Johnson Jr. and Gary Don Johnson.
She is survived by her two loving children, Jamie Thurman (Terry) and Jacob (Lauren) Tanton; three beautiful granddaughters, Payton, Berkley, and Blair, who she absolutely adored; sisters, Sharon (Donald) Holley, Gail (Lamar) Roach, and Shawna Benton; brothers, Randy Johnson, J.R. (Shawna) Benton, and Todd Benton; and loving extended family and cherished friends who made her life complete.
Joyce had a contagious smile and an entertaining sense of humor. Throughout her life she maintained a loving demeanor that won the hearts of many, who are even now being moved by the stories of her constant nurturing love. Her signature gift of smiling and laughter will never be forgotten.
The family will receive friends on Tuesday, January 12, 2016, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Faith Chapel North in Cantonment. A funeral service celebrating her life will be held Wednesday, January 13, 2016, at 1 p.m. at Faith Chapel North with graveside services to follow at Eastern Gate.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is in charge of arrangements.
No Saturday Powerball Winner; Jackpot Soars To $1.4 Billion
January 10, 2016
No one managed to win Saturday’s historical $948.8 million Powerball, so now the lottery jackpot has surged to a mind-boggling $1.4 billion for Wednesday…a new record. The lump sum option is estimated at $868 million, minus taxes.
The winning numbers draw Saturday night in Tallahassee were 32, 16, 19, 57 and 34. The Powerball number was 13, with a multiplier of 3.
The odds of winning the jackpot still stand at 1 in 292.1 million, regard less of the prize payout in the multi-state lottery. Powerball is played in 44 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgins Islands.
It’s not played in Alabama, and that leads to lines, packed parking lots and traffic congestion in Davisville, on Highway 97 just south of Atmore, AL.
Pictured above: Lottery hopefuls line up outside a Davisville lottery retailer Saturday afternoon. Pictured below: A billboard facing Alabama teases residents to cross the state line and play the Powerball. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Jay Hospital Temporarily Shut Down By Smell Of Smoke
January 10, 2016
Jay Hospital was forced to temporarily turn away patients Saturday afternoon as fire departments from several cities search for the source of the smell of smoke.
The Jay, Berrydale, Allentown and Flomaton fire departments responded to Jay Hospital after the smell of smoke was reported. Workers were cleared from a portion of the building were the smell was the strongest as firefighters searched for the smoke source.
Authorities said no fire was ever found.
FDOT: Weekly Traffic Alerts
January 10, 2016
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
- U.S. 29, Escambia County – Northbound traffic will encounter lane restrictions Monday, Jan. 11 through Friday, Jan. 15 starting at Champion Drive and continuing north as crews begin construction of guardrail pads. Also, motorists can expect intermittent northbound lane closures to occur within the town of Century as workers continue construction activities.
- S.R. 4, Escambia County- Lane closures at the Escambia River Bridge from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 12 as crews perform routine maintenance.
- I-10 Gateway Structure at Florida/Alabama State line, Escambia County- The eastbound outside lane at the Florida/Alabama State line will be closed from 8 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 10 to 5 a.m. Monday, Jan. 11. The westbound, outside lane will be closed from 8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 11 to 5 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 12. The lane closures will allow crews to construct barrier wall along the east and westbound shoulders in preparation for construction of the new gateway structures.
- State Road (S.R.) 289 (9th Avenue), Escambia County- Crews continue paving operations between Bayou Boulevard and Creighton Road. Lane closures will be in effect from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. Between Bayou Boulevard and Cervantes Street, motorists will also encounter intermittent and alternating daytime lane closures as crews adjust manholes and valves.
- I-10 Widening, Escambia County- The eastbound, right lane, near Exit 17 (Scenic Highway), will be closed from 7 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 12 and Wednesday, Jan. 13. In addition, traffic in the left lane of I-10 eastbound will be slowed by the Florida Highway Patrol to escort vehicles during this time. The closures will allow crews to set girders for the new Scenic Highway overpass. Drivers will also encounter alternating lane closures on Scenic Highway near the Scenic Highway overpass during this time. Traffic flaggers will be on site to direct traffic through the work zone. Motorists are reminded the speed limit on I-10, between Davis Highway and Scenic Highway, is reduced to 60 mph.
- I-10 Widening, Santa Rosa County – Alternating lane closures on Avalon Boulevard near the I-10 interchange from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. beginning Monday, Jan. 4 as crews perform bridge work. Closures will continue Sunday through Thursday night until the end of January. Alternating east and westbound lane closures between the Escambia Bay Bridge and S.R. 281 (Avalon Boulevard/ Exit 22). Lane restrictions will be in effect from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday night until the end of January.
- State Roads, Santa Rosa County – Drivers will encounter daytime and nighttime traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Santa Rosa County through Jan. 22 as crews perform striping and pavement marking operations.
- U.S. 90 just east of State Road (S.R.) 281 (Avalon Boulevard) to S.R. 87and west end of Blackwater Bridge to the east end of Blackwater Bridge.
- S.R. 87 (Stewart Street) from U.S. 90 to north end of Clear Creek Bridge.
- S.R. 89 (By-Pass) from U.S. 90 to S.R. 87.
- S.R. 89 from S.R. 87 to County Road 178.
- U.S. 98 from the zoo to the Okaloosa County line. (nighttime operation)
All planned construction activities are weather dependent and may be re-scheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Firefighters Donate Adult Diapers To Council On Aging
January 10, 2016
Local firefighters donated 700 adult diapers to Council on Aging of West Florida, and expect to deliver several hundred more in the coming weeks.
“We wanted to go above and beyond,” said Dusty Merritt, vice president of Pensacola Professional Firefighters Local 707. “We know there’s a need.”
Adult diapers and underwear can cost up to $40 a pack, and can be a cost burden for many seniors. This donation will allow Council on Aging to help the clients in the community who need it most.
“Every day firefighters serve our community selflessly,” said John Clark, president/CEO of Council on Aging. “They already do so much for others, and we are grateful that they chose us to be the recipient of another selfless act.”
Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cool Today, 24 Tonight
January 10, 2016
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Today: Cloudy early, then gradual clearing, with a high near 48. Northwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 24. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 51. Wind chill values between 20 and 30 early. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 25. Calm wind.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 57. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph in the morning.
Tuesday Night: Clear, with a low around 34. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 53. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph in the morning.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of rain after midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 36. East wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: A 30 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 53. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39.
Friday: A 20 percent chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 59.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44.
Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 59.
Volunteers Build New Beds For Animal Shelter
January 10, 2016
The animals at the Escambia County Animal Shelter have new beds, thanks to the efforts of about 200 volunteers who built the beds on Saturday. The beds are designed to provide a place for the animals to sleep off the shelter floor. The volunteers constructed about 150 beds, providing a few extras for the 120 kennels at at the animal shelter. The materials were all donated, and the beds were constructed at Emerald Coast Granite and Tile. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
10 Issues To Watch During 2016 Legislative Session
January 10, 2016
Florida lawmakers will return to the Capitol next week for an election-year legislative session.
Expect the 60-day session to start amicably enough, with the House and Senate poised to quickly pass bills about water policy and boosting opportunities for people with disabilities — priorities of House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island, and Senate President Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando.
But as always, the true sausage-making will happen near the end of the 60-day session, as lawmakers race to pass bills, tack on amendments and negotiate a budget. Here are 10 issues to watch during the session, which starts Jan. 12 and is scheduled to end March 11:
BUDGET: Lawmakers will enter the session with a surplus as they prepare to negotiate a budget for the fiscal year starting July 1. Gov. Rick Scott has proposed a $79.3 billion spending plan as a starting point. Among other things, Scott wants to set a record for per-student funding in public schools, boost economic-development incentives and cut taxes. But a key question could focus on the size of the surplus. State economists have predicted a $635.4 million surplus, while Scott’s administration contends the number could be as high as $1.6 billion. The resolution of that issue could help determine how much money is available for education, health care, economic-development incentives and tax cuts.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: Scott, who has made job creation the hallmark of his administration, clashed last year with the Senate about providing economic incentives to try to attract businesses to Florida. Scott has kept up the pressure, requesting that lawmakers set aside $250 million for incentives and make changes in the incentives process. Senate leaders, however, have questioned the need to plow such a large amount of money into incentives and whether incentives programs have been effective.
EDUCATION: Continuing to face pressure from educators and parents, the Legislature could again grapple with making changes to Florida’s high-stakes testing system. As an example, Senate Education Appropriations Chairman Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, has raised the idea of allowing schools to use tests other than the state’s Florida Standards Assessments. Another closely watched issue could be whether lawmakers decide to continue a controversial program that offers bonuses to teachers based on their ACT or SAT college-admission test scores.
GAMBLING: Lobbyists likely will swarm as the Legislature debates whether to make potentially far-reaching changes in the gambling industry. Much of the debate has been prompted by a proposed $3 billion agreement that Scott reached last month with the Seminole Tribe of Florida. In exchange for payments to the state, the tribe would be able to offer craps and roulette at its casinos. But the deal also opened the door to a series of other issues, ranging from allowing slot machines at a greyhound track in Palm Beach County and at a new facility in Miami-Dade County to allowing dog and horse tracks to stop running live races.
GUNS: In the months leading up to the session, gun bills have drawn perhaps the most public attention. Lawmakers are considering a controversial proposal that would allow people with concealed-weapons licenses to carry guns on college and university campuses. Second Amendment groups are supporting the proposal, while university-system leaders have opposed it. In a separate proposal, lawmakers are debating whether to allow people with concealed-weapons licenses to openly carry firearms.
HEALTH CARE: After the 2015 session was dominated by battles about health-care issues, lawmakers will go into this year’s session still dealing with major budget and policy decisions. Part of the focus again will be on the Low Income Pool, or LIP, program, which helps hospitals care for poor and uninsured patients. Federal officials have said the program will receive $608 million during the upcoming year, down from $1 billion this year. Meanwhile, House leaders are pushing a series of proposals aimed at reducing regulations in the health-care industry. One of the most-contentious would eliminate what is known as the “certificate of need” approval process for new or expanded hospitals.
JUSTICE SYSTEM: With critics arguing that Florida charges too many juvenile offenders as adults, the House and Senate are looking at possibly limiting the ability of prosecutors to make such decisions. Lawmakers are debating how much discretion prosecutors should have in using a practice known as “direct file.” Among other issues involving the courts, some House members are backing the idea of seeking term limits for members of the Florida Supreme Court and appeals courts. Such a proposal, if approved by the Legislature, would need to go before voters.
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES: For Gardiner, this is personal. Gardiner, whose son has Down syndrome, has long made a priority of trying to provide more opportunities for people with developmental disabilities — or as he calls them, “unique abilities.” The Senate and House are poised to approve a package of changes that would seek to spur state agencies to hire people with disabilities, expand educational opportunities and create a financial literacy program. Also, lawmakers likely will create a program to recognize businesses that hire people with disabilities.
TAX CUTS: Florida businesses will watch closely during the legislative session to see how much of Scott’s proposed $1 billion tax-cut package will get approved by lawmakers. The package, in part, would permanently eliminate a tax on manufacturing equipment, reduce a tax on commercial leases and make smaller cuts, such as holding a back-to-school sales tax “holiday” and extending a temporary elimination of sales taxes on college textbooks. Scott also wants to eliminate income taxes on manufacturers and retailers. But it remains unclear how far lawmakers will go with tax cuts, with a particular concern about the long-term financial impact of permanent or “recurring” tax cuts.
WATER: Crisafulli and Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam have made a top priority of passing a wide-ranging bill to set new water policies for the state. And with the House and Senate going into the session with identical proposals, it appears Crisafulli and Putnam will quickly get their wish. The proposal, which has drawn criticism from many environmental groups, includes establishing water-flow levels for springs and setting guidelines for the Central Florida Water Initiative. Also, it includes steps such as further establishing management plans for farming around Lake Okeechobee and waterways in surrounding areas.
by Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida